Legal Costs - Civil Matters
Scale of Fees for Civil Matters $1 - $150,000
This is the scale of fees for counsel's work in less complicated civil matters in the Magistrates Court and QCAT.
Prices do not include a GST component which is payable in addition to the scale fee.
Where there is a gap in the scale table it may be filled by reference to other matters in the table.
Scale of Fees for Civil Matters
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A |
B |
C |
D |
| Scale Item No. |
Item Description |
$1
to
$10,000 |
$10,001
to
$20,000 |
$20,001
to
$50,000 |
$50,001
to
$150,000 |
| Pleadings |
| 1 |
to settle claim and statement of claim (application in Federal Magistrates Court) |
$240.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| 2 |
to settle defence and notice of intention to defend (response in Federal Magistrates Court) |
$240.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| 3 |
to settle counterclaim |
$240.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| 4 |
to settle answer to counterclaim |
$240.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| 5 |
to settle reply or rejoinder or similar response |
$240.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| Evidence |
| 6 |
to settle special affidavit |
$200.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| 7 |
to settle interrogatories or answers to interrogatories |
$200.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| 8 |
on conference for a time up to and including the first hour and then per hour on a pro rata basis using a 5 minute time keeping interval |
$200.00 |
$220.00 |
$240.00 |
$240.00 |
| 9 |
on an inspection of works or other site inspection or a similar attendance for a time up to and including the first hour and then per hour on a pro rata basis using a 5 minute time keeping interval |
$200.00 |
$220.00 |
$240.00 |
$240.00 |
| 10 |
to advise on evidence comprising an oral advice and a short written summary in the nature of bullet points |
$200.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
| Trial |
| 11 |
on trial or hearing (other than an application in a proceeding) for the day appearing or thrown away per day |
$1,250.00 |
$1,530.00 |
$1,680.00 |
$2,180.00 |
| 12 |
on each subsequent day of hearing if the matter occupies less than two hours |
$370.00 |
$505.00 |
$565.00 |
$700.00 |
| Ending Proceedings Early |
| 13 |
on preparation of outline of argument and appearance on application for summary judgment, applying or defending |
$500.00 |
$750.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,500.00 |
| 14 |
on preparation of outline of argument and appearance on application to strike out, applying or defending |
$500.00 |
$750.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,500.00 |
| Applications |
| 15 |
on preparation of outline of argument and appearance on application, applying or defending |
$500.00 |
$750.00 |
$1,000.00 |
$1,500.00 |
| Taking in Judgment |
| 16 |
to appear on a deferred or reserved judgment and argue costs |
$240.00 |
$240.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
| Appeals |
| 17 |
to drawing notice of appeal and grounds |
$240.00 |
$240.00 |
$300.00 |
$500.00 |
| 18 |
to drawing outline of argument in compliance with practice directions |
$1,200.00 |
$1,500.00 |
$1,800.00 |
$2,400.00 |
| 19 |
to appearing on application for leave to appeal |
$1,200.00 |
$1,500.00 |
$1,800.00 |
N/A – above $25,000 appeal is as of right |
| 20 |
to appearing on hearing appeal |
$1,200.00 |
$1,500.00 |
$1,800.00 |
$2,400.00 |
| Other Items |
| 21 |
an item not accounted for in the scale, a fee not to exceed per hour on a pro rata basis using a 5 minute time keeping interval |
$125.00 |
$150.00 |
$180.00 |
$220.00 |
| Outlays |
| 22 |
outlays are at cost |
| Travel |
| 23 |
travel costs are at cost plus GST |
| 24 |
no charge is to be made for travel time |
| 25 |
an out of chambers fee is to be paid in respect of each night counsel is required to stay outside the town where counsel ordinarily practices |
$180.00 |
$200.00 |
$220.00 |
$240.00 |
Goods and Services Tax. Prices do not include a GST component which is payable in addition to the scale fee.
Indemnity Costs. Where indemnity costs are awarded, any items which correspond to an award of indemnity costs are uplifted to the extent that the Court makes its award or alternatively where no specific fee is nominated by the Court then by an additional 50% on all professional costs but not outlays.
